5 home improvements to create your dream bedroom

This article has been written by hipages, a platform that provides a better, smarter way to connect you with trusted, local tradies to get your home improvement job done well.

Design your dream bedroom

Just because visitors don’t see your bedroom doesn’t mean it should suffer neglect. It’s your sanctuary, so give yourself permission to beautify it and create an oasis of calm.

Here are 5 expert tips to guide you through the renovation process.

1. Choosing carpet for your bedroom

While most people these days choose hard flooring throughout most of their home, carpet is still a popular choice for bedrooms. Carpet not only gives a cosier feel to a bedroom, it has good insulation and absorbs sound which can make for a sounder night’s sleep.

Carpet is typically available as loop pile - a dense, linear finish - or cut pile - a velvety finish. Plush cut pile can make a bedroom feel luxurious, while pure wool is durable and easy to clean. If you’re choosing wool, be prepared for pilling or drifts of fluff for the first few weeks after it’s laid.

Carpet tiles are a practical option and can be cheaper to lay than broadloom (wall to wall) carpet andthese days, carpet tiles come in high quality and a huge range of patterns and shapes to play with. A top tip if you’re choosing carpet tiles it to order some extra tiles in case of future damage. Any stained carpet tile can be easily replaced..

2. Adding built-in wardrobes

Great storage – and plenty of it – ensures your bedroom stays clutter-free and has a sleek finish. A walk-in or built-in wardrobe, however, can easily blow out your renovation budget if you’re not careful. If you think BIR (built-in robes) are the right choice for your bedroom, then consider taking to an interior designer who can design your built-in robe (for a fee) or outsource the task to a local kitchen cabinet-maker or carpenter.

A fitted wardrobe can cost upwards of $1500, depending on the bells and whistles you want. Walk-in robes can cost you $5000 or more for a modest 2 x 2 metre space. The price reflects the materials used. At the bottom end of the scale is basic white melamine, and at the upper end is fine wood veneers. What works for you depends on your style, preference and budget.

For ready-made options, head to popular flat-pack retailers and consider hiring a local carpenter to put your wardrobe together for you. There are also companies that sell lots of clever inserts for built-ins that you can add to your existing wardrobe.

3. Finding the right lighting

Lighting can make or break a space and all too often is overlooked until the last minute. As with anything, lighting options come with a range of price tags. If you must have downlights, choose as few as possible as your bedroom ceiling might start to resemble an airport runway! The purpose of downlights should only be to illuminate the room for dressing and cleaning.

If you can avoid downlights, you’ll have a nicer and more sophisticated space that allows for a statement pendant light and wall sconces. An experienced electrician could install these on two separate circuits, allowing for adaptability in the mood of your room. If you’re tight on space, then hanging pendant lights or wall sconces over your bedside tables (instead of table lamps) will allow more room.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to installing pendants, then pay some attention to the bedside lamps you choose. These are important for both style and practicality, as they are great for reading in bed as well as a secondary lighting system.

Don’t forget wardrobe lighting! Interior lighting in your wardrobe is also important so you aren’t groping around in the dark in the morning looking for the right outfit to wear to work.

4. Selecting window coverings

Window coverings are a bedroom essential for both privacy and to keep morning light at bay so you aren’t woken any earlier than you need to be.

Like lighting, costs can vary drastically. A quality custom-made blind will cost in the ballpark of $1000 for a decent-sized window. This may sound expensive, but they are built to last and often come with a warranty. Blinds come in many different styles, and you can specify your own fabric if, for example, you want the blinds to match a lampshade.

Other options are:

sliding plantation shutters,

vertical blinds

timber slat blinds

Curtains are making a comeback! You can source readymade curtains or fabric at the lower end of the price spectrum from regular retailers, or at the top end there are boutique fabric houses that stock stunning ranges of fabrics from Europe (allow up to $1000 per linear metre or more!). You can also find great deals on upmarket fabrics via fabric wholesalers on the internet.

Next, you have to get the curtains made. Don’t do this yourself if you have purchased a high-quality fabric. Fabric houses have professional curtain makers on their books who will site measure for you and coordinate with the fabric retailer. A professional will know where to hang your curtains, and how to hang them for the best finish. This exercise does not come cheap, and making a decent set of curtains can run into the thousands of dollars.

5. Picking wallpaper

Wallpaper is back in fashion in a big way. Splashy patterns are great as a feature wall behind the bed, or smaller, quieter patterns work well if you’re wallpapering the whole room.

Renting your place? Try out new removable and reusable wallpapers. You can simply pull down and take it with you when you move out.

The average roll of wallpaper is 10 metres long and 53cm wide. If you choose patterned wallpaper, you’ll experience a bit of natural wastage due to the repeat of the patten and the need for things to match up. Each drop of wallpaper must allow for an extra dimension for the repeat. These instructions are generally printed on the reverse of the wallpaper or come as a label with each roll so check the packet.

Coordinating your dream bedroom project

Hiring an interior designer or decorator to coordinate your dream bedroom project can save you a lot of time, and sometimes money, as they can pass on trade discounts. If you’re tackling the project yourself, here’s some tips to get you started.

Finally, have your new window coverings hung and new light fittings installed. Depending on everyone’s availability, the whole project should take from 1 to 3 weeks.

Remember to budget

Ready to bedazzle your boudoir? Set your budget and carefully allocate it to cover all your needs. Then find a hipages electrician, carpenter, painter, wallpaper hanger and carpet layer to undertake all the work for you. If you’re not sure how much you can spend, try using an online budget calculator to get a better overview of your finances.

hipages makes the process of hiring a tradie and managing a home improvement job easier. You can describe your job with a photo, get up to three reliable quotes from trusted, local tradies and arrange payment all in one place. Join over 2 million Australians who’ve changed the way they tradie.

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